A_FROG_IN_TIME 239 Posted November 18, 2022 Hello, Desperately seeking Susan, I mean beta readers. I have written a novel. It is dystopia but with fantasy vibes. It is the first part of a duology (half of part 2 is written). The Healer... PROS: Alien prophecy, Kick ass assassin, Alien human half breeds. Hyper evolution, bit of politics and a couple of twisty turny twists. CONS: I would like feedback by end of the year if possible or at most the end of Jan. I want to get a copy edit early next year so want the story nailed before then. This is my first ever novel so I have no idea what I am doing. It has been read by my mum, my boss, an English teacher and one other author. All agree it is pretty good so I am not just inflicting rubbish on you. Anyone interested? Please? Go on, I'll be your best friend 😻 Sample Her attacker was too fast, and she knew it, so close and she was about to lose it all. She fumbled with trembling fingers trying to pull the knife from its sheaf, then with a soft ‘thunk’, a head landed on the floor beside her. 1 Steve reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steve 5,913 Posted November 19, 2022 How many pages is the first novel? Quote Steve IRL ► Personal Links: YouTube (booktube) ● OTBSteve YouTube (MTB and cycling) ● Strava ● Last.fm ● GoodReads ● Vero ◄ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
A_FROG_IN_TIME 239 Posted November 19, 2022 4 hours ago, Steve said: How many pages is the first novel? About 350. 98k words Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steve 5,913 Posted November 19, 2022 10 hours ago, A_FROG_IN_TIME said: About 350. 98k words Sorry I always think of pages when authors think of words. I'm no expert and not the sharpest crayon in the box but I can take a peek at it and send some feedback your way before January 1 A_FROG_IN_TIME reacted to this Quote Steve IRL ► Personal Links: YouTube (booktube) ● OTBSteve YouTube (MTB and cycling) ● Strava ● Last.fm ● GoodReads ● Vero ◄ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
A_FROG_IN_TIME 239 Posted November 19, 2022 3 hours ago, Steve said: Sorry I always think of pages when authors think of words. I'm no expert and not the sharpest crayon in the box but I can take a peek at it and send some feedback your way before January I have messaged you to find out what the best way to get the book to you is, and thank you. I appreciate ut. 1 Steve reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steve 5,913 Posted November 28, 2022 On 11/19/2022 at 2:58 PM, A_FROG_IN_TIME said: I have messaged you to find out what the best way to get the book to you is, and thank you. I appreciate ut. Looking forward to it! Quote Steve IRL ► Personal Links: YouTube (booktube) ● OTBSteve YouTube (MTB and cycling) ● Strava ● Last.fm ● GoodReads ● Vero ◄ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Paromita Mukherjee 849 Posted November 28, 2022 (edited) Hello @A_FROG_IN_TIME, firstly many congratulations on completing your first novel! Yes I am interested. One question: Is there a lot of graphic violence in the novel? (it is just something for which my threshold is low so I may not be the best person to read it then) A little about me as a reader (to perhaps help judge if my feedback would at all be useful): I am just a general reader, no expertise, like reading and discussing books. My favourite dystopian novel is probably Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler and my favourite SF novel is a tie between Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer and Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes. I also have liked Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro among dystopian novels. I read a lot more fantasy than SF - my favourite works are LOTR, Gormenghast, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. I am also a fan of the Kingkiller Chronicle. I prioritise writing = characterisation > plot > themes > worldbuilding. A little about the feedback I may be able to give: Usually more big picture feedback e.g. "the writing worked really well for me, Chapter x could perhaps be edited down for clarity, I really liked the character y, The plot point z was unclear to me until Page xxx, " and so on. If all this sounds like a good fit, I'd be happy to read and share some feedback before January. (Pro: I am a fastish reader, Con: I skim action scenes 🤭) Edited November 28, 2022 by Paromita Mukherjee Tagged recipient 1 Steve reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
A_FROG_IN_TIME 239 Posted November 28, 2022 16 minutes ago, Paromita Mukherjee said: Hello @A_FROG_IN_TIME, firstly many congratulations on completing your first novel! Yes I am interested. One question: Is there a lot of graphic violence in the novel? (it is just something for which my threshold is low so I may not be the best person to read it then) A little about me as a reader (to perhaps help judge if my feedback would at all be useful): I am just a general reader, no expertise, like reading and discussing books. My favourite dystopian novel is probably Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler and my favourite SF novel is a tie between Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer and Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes. I also have liked Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro among dystopian novels. I read a lot more fantasy than SF - my favourite works are LOTR, Gormenghast, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. I am also a fan of the Kingkiller Chronicle. I prioritise writing = characterisation > plot > themes > worldbuilding. A little about the feedback I may be able to give: Usually more big picture feedback e.g. "the writing worked really well for me, Chapter x could perhaps be edited down for clarity, I really liked the character y, The plot point z was unclear to me until Page xxx, " and so on. If all this sounds like a good fit, I'd be happy to read and share some feedback before January. (Pro: I am a fastish reader, Con: I skim action scenes 🤭) Hi @Paromita Mukherjee, I would be happy for you to read my book. There is violence in the book but I do not think it is overly graphic. It is a tough world I have created and survival outside of the big cities is difficult. Happy if you read what you want comment on as much ad you like. I can email over a pdf if you want to message me your email address. LOTR is my favourite book ever. Mine is nothing like it though. I am planning to build on this world to write some pure fantasy set way in the future from the events in The Healer 2 Steve and Paromita Mukherjee reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Paromita Mukherjee 849 Posted November 28, 2022 7 minutes ago, A_FROG_IN_TIME said: Hi @Paromita Mukherjee, I would be happy for you to read my book. There is violence in the book but I do not think it is overly graphic. It is a tough world I have created and survival outside of the big cities is difficult. Happy if you read what you want comment on as much ad you like. I can email over a pdf if you want to message me your email address. LOTR is my favourite book ever. Mine is nothing like it though. I am planning to build on this world to write some pure fantasy set way in the future from the events in The Healer Message sent! So nice to hear from a fellow LOTR fan 👋. 1 Steve reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
A_FROG_IN_TIME 239 Posted December 6, 2022 Hey Everyone, There is still time to grab a beta read version of The Healer this before I wade back into the warm waters of editing. All feedback is welcome. 😁 3 Steve, Frank and Paromita Mukherjee reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steve 5,913 Posted December 6, 2022 Starting it later today or tomorrow 🤘🏼 1 A_FROG_IN_TIME reacted to this Quote Steve IRL ► Personal Links: YouTube (booktube) ● OTBSteve YouTube (MTB and cycling) ● Strava ● Last.fm ● GoodReads ● Vero ◄ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
A_FROG_IN_TIME 239 Posted December 6, 2022 2 minutes ago, Steve said: Starting it later today or tomorrow 🤘🏼 You are a legend Sir 😁 2 Steve and Paromita Mukherjee reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steve 5,913 Posted December 6, 2022 5 hours ago, A_FROG_IN_TIME said: You are a legend Sir 😁 Wrapped up The Monsters We Feed and starting now 2 A_FROG_IN_TIME and Paromita Mukherjee reacted to this Quote Steve IRL ► Personal Links: YouTube (booktube) ● OTBSteve YouTube (MTB and cycling) ● Strava ● Last.fm ● GoodReads ● Vero ◄ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
A_FROG_IN_TIME 239 Posted December 6, 2022 49 minutes ago, Steve said: Wrapped up The Monsters We Feed and starting now Hopefully you will enjoy it. 1 Paromita Mukherjee reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steve 5,913 Posted December 6, 2022 Have a couple of minor things, do you prefer to DM you or leave them here on this thread? 1 Paromita Mukherjee reacted to this Quote Steve IRL ► Personal Links: YouTube (booktube) ● OTBSteve YouTube (MTB and cycling) ● Strava ● Last.fm ● GoodReads ● Vero ◄ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
A_FROG_IN_TIME 239 Posted December 6, 2022 1 minute ago, Steve said: Have a couple of minor things, do you prefer to DM you or leave them here on this thread? DM or email until I am more confident please... have you finished already or are these bits just so bad they leap out at you? 2 Paromita Mukherjee and Steve reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steve 5,913 Posted December 6, 2022 I'm about %7 in or so. It's nothing crazy, and the stuff I have written down I may not even be right about. Quote Steve IRL ► Personal Links: YouTube (booktube) ● OTBSteve YouTube (MTB and cycling) ● Strava ● Last.fm ● GoodReads ● Vero ◄ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
A_FROG_IN_TIME 239 Posted December 6, 2022 Just now, Steve said: I'm about %7 in or so. It's nothing crazy, and the stuff I have written down I may not even be right about. Not much has happened yet then 😁 It's all good feedback, whether I agree and make changes or not. My plan is to compare the feed back from each person. Any bits everyone mentions, needs changing, then going down in the number of mentions I will decide if I agree with the comments and can do something about it or not. Seemed like the logical approach. One thing I should say is don't get too hung up on spelling, I have been speaking to a nice lady in Canada about professionally editing it. If they are good, then I will post the company on here for others. 1 1 Paromita Mukherjee and Steve reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steve 5,913 Posted December 6, 2022 3 minutes ago, A_FROG_IN_TIME said: Not much has happened yet then 😁 It's all good feedback, whether I agree and make changes or not. My plan is to compare the feed back from each person. Any bits everyone mentions, needs changing, then going down in the number of mentions I will decide if I agree with the comments and can do something about it or not. Seemed like the logical approach. One thing I should say is don't get too hung up on spelling, I have been speaking to a nice lady in Canada about professionally editing it. If they are good, then I will post the company on here for others. I will say I'm enjoying the setup so far! Once I get settled in and get this video recorded I'll send over some screenshots. Was a busier day at work so I didn't get to the 10% I was shooting for 2 A_FROG_IN_TIME and Paromita Mukherjee reacted to this Quote Steve IRL ► Personal Links: YouTube (booktube) ● OTBSteve YouTube (MTB and cycling) ● Strava ● Last.fm ● GoodReads ● Vero ◄ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
A_FROG_IN_TIME 239 Posted Thursday at 01:01 PM If anyone wants to beta read this there is still time. If you can fit in a read between now and the end of Feb (yes I am already pushing my own deadlines). Even if you cannot finish, any feedback you can chuck me would be appreciated. Thanks 1 Paromita Mukherjee reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Varsha 109 Posted Thursday at 09:28 PM 8 hours ago, A_FROG_IN_TIME said: If anyone wants to beta read this there is still time. If you can fit in a read between now and the end of Feb (yes I am already pushing my own deadlines). Even if you cannot finish, any feedback you can chuck me would be appreciated. Thanks I think I can manage to finish 350 pages before Feb. I would love to beta read your book. I must mention though that this would be my first beta read, so it may not be very helpful for you. 1 Paromita Mukherjee reacted to this Quote ► ● Booktube ● Goodreads ● Twitter ● Email Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
A_FROG_IN_TIME 239 Posted Thursday at 10:06 PM 29 minutes ago, Varsha said: I think I can manage to finish 350 pages before Feb. I would love to beta read your book. I must mention though that this would be my first beta read, so it may not be very helpful for you. Thank you Varsha, I have never written a book before so we are both learning. Some bits to know about the book. It is the first part of a duology, you are under no compulsion to read the second book or finish this one. Read as much as you want to. If it is not for you then just let me know with any feed back you are prepared to give. Feedback anything that works or does not work for you, there is no bad feedback. Finally, if you want to message me an email address and a preferred format, I will send you a copy. I can do word, epub or pdf easily. Other formats I may have to look into. PDF can be imported onto a kindle, if that helps. This is before I send it off to a professional editor for spelling and Grammar, so expect spelling and grammar mistakes! Once again Thank you for helping me. 2 Varsha and Paromita Mukherjee reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites